Granite at Epprechtstein: From quarry to labyrinth

Our starting point and also the day's destination, the Nature Friends House in Kirchenlamitz offers a small excursion into the flora and fauna of the Epprechtstein and is very popular with children because of the playground, while the parents prefer coffee and cake. However, the gods have placed sweat before pleasure!

Therefore, we climb a romantic forest path over roots and granite steps until we reach the Epprechtstein trail, which in summer is both a hiking and cycling path. We keep to the right and after 200m stand at the former loading station with the old rail track of the granite wagon railway. Here, granite was loaded and transported by rail to the granite factory in Weißenstadt.

Next to the erected granite stele of the "Marterhorn," we ascend on a narrow path through sparse bush forest to the circular path around the Epprechtstein. Here, we briefly keep left to after a few meters turn right onto a wide path that leads uphill along a high wall made of rubble stones. The rusty, long iron rollers anchored in the masonry used to serve as rope deflectors when the heavily loaded wagons were lowered down the slope on long ropes around the curve.

Passing the fountain, we reach the now unmanned mountain watch hut on the Epprechtstein. The view at the rusty crane into the depths of the quarry lets us guess the hard work with which the stonemasons earned their meager wages. Along the quarry, we follow steps uphill to a swampy meadow that once served as a cistern.

The bergfried of the robber barons' castle Epprechtstein stands impressively above us as we climb the granite staircase on the left to reach the castle base. The ascent within the square of the old castle wall to the wooden viewing platform is rewarded with a fantastic panoramic view over the peaks of the Fichtelgebirge!

Our return path leads through the castle ruins on a narrow ridge down again to the circular path by well-developed stairs – always keep left! There, we encounter a shelter hut that offers protection in bad weather. Passing it, we circle the Epprechtstein, repeatedly enjoying interesting views of old quarries and abandoned shelters until we reach the Luisentisch. A dead giant tree with shelf fungi marks this spot at the stone plaque with benches, which were set up in 1805 for the visit of Queen Luise of Prussia. For us, a welcome place to have a picnic.

After a short break, we turn right about 100m further down and follow the signpost "To the Lamitz spring" on a wonderful forest path westward. After about 1 km, we cross the gravel Schlossberg path and continue on a now narrowing path slightly uphill. The forest becomes lighter; heather, blackberries, and blueberries grow along the path, and we reach a hunting stand at the same height as the Epprechtstein.

We follow the next forest road, the "Lamitzlohweg," about 300m to the right to hike to the romantic Lamitz spring. It lies to the right of the path in a valley floor and is marked by a signpost above the forest road. Here one can rest well in the moist coolness even in high summer before we start the return journey.

For the return, we follow the Lamitzlohweg in the direction we came from, always gently downhill, until after about an hour of brisk walking we reach the parking lot at the "Hinteren Buchhaus." Here we keep left to follow the signpost to the granite labyrinth at the "Gasthaus zur Waldschmiede." This gigantic stone monument invites you to get lost and find yourself again – let yourself drift!

The short return path to the Nature Friends House is rewarded on Sundays with coffee and cake!